Glutathione is a non-essential substance used by virtually every cell in the body to neutralize disease-causing free radicals. In fact, since the body manufactures this potent antioxidant, it acts like a security guard that's on duty around the clock. If you regularly eat a balanced diet, then you probably produce enough of this material. However, although the reasons are not yet understood, glutathione deficiency is common in people with chronic autoimmune diseases, such as AIDS, cancer and Crohn's disease. This suggests that there is a wide range of health benefits of glutathione.
Function
Glutathione is classified as a tripeptide, which simply means it is hooked up via three short, protein-like peptide bonds to the amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid. In the forward of the book, "Glutathione: The Ultimate Antioxidant," Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D., refers to glutathione molecules as the "foot soldiers" of the immune system. Alan H. Pressman, co-author of the book, asserts that maintaining high levels of glutathione is critical to feel alert, energetic and to protect yourself from chronic illness and premature aging.
Drugs.com describes glutathione as a major intracellular antioxidant involved in immune function in several ways. Specifically, glutathione regulates the activity of other antioxidants, such vitamins C and E; it promotes the synthesis and repair of DNA and the production of proteins; assists the immune system in making antibodies to fight foreign materials; and enables the body to neutralize and eliminate environmental toxins, as well as those produced from normal metabolic processes. In effect, glutathione is needed by every cell, organ and system to work properly.
Potential Applications
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has not approved glutathione therapy as a treatment for any specific disease or condition. However, Drugs.com states that glutathione supplementation may help to prevent or treat many conditions associated with impaired immune function due to elevated oxidative stress or aging. These include cancer, AIDS, asthma, heart disease, hepatitis, radiation poisoning, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that age-related eye disorders, such as cataracts, may develop as the result of a decline in glutathione production and utilization.
Clinical Support
In the Nov. 1, 2010 issue of the "Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience," Dean Olivia and fellow researchers at the University of Melbourne published a review of the medical literature of the benefits of n-acetylcysteine, a precursor to glutathione, in psychiatric research. Based on the available data, the scientists concluded that regulating glutathione metabolism might benefit people suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, addiction and compulsive disorders.
In a study published in the August 2009 issue of "Oncology Reports," Yong Hwan Han and Woo Hyun Park reported that raising glutathione levels in cells reduced cancer growth by suppressing the activity of certain chemically-reactive oxygen molecules, at least in test tubes. However, another study published in the Nov.-Dec. 2004 issue of "Cell Biochemistry and Function" showed that increasing glutathione levels in established breast, larynx, colon, lung and bone marrow cancer cells actually helps the cells to resist the effects of chemotherapy drugs.
Risks
Drugs.com cautions that you should not supplement with glutathione if you are undergoing immunosuppressive therapy without the supervision of a qualified health care practitioner. In addition, some people may experience adverse reactions to supplements formulated with milk proteins.
References
- PubMed: Role of Cysteine and Glutathione in HIV Infection and Other Diseases Associated with Muscle Wasting and Immunological Dysfunction
- "Glutathione: The Ultimate Antioxidant"; Alan H. Pressman and Sheila Buff; 1997
- Drugs.com: Immunocal Powder Sachets
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cataracts
- "Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience"; N-acetylcysteine in Psychiatry: Current Therapeutic Evidence and Potential Mechanisms of Action; Dean O et al.; 2010
- "Oncology Reports"; The Effects of N-acetyl Cysteine, Buthionine Sulfoximine, Diethyldithiocarbamate or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on Antimycin A-treated Calu-6 Lung Cells in Relation to Cell Growth, Reactive Oxygen Species and Glutathione; Yong HH, Woo HP; 2009
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